Residents voice concerns about Good Sam Hospital closing at community forum

by Rhonda Moore

Sunday, February 11th 2018

Residents voice concerns about Good Sam Hospital closing at community forum (WKEF/WRGT)<p>{/p}

DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF/WRGT) -- Some Dayton residents aired their grievances about Good Samaritan Hospital closing at a community forum on Saturday morning.

The forum was put on by the Dayton chapter of the NAACP.

People filled a local church to talk about the hospital closing.

Board members listened but said they're not changing their minds.

"I had a heart attack and I came to Good Samaritan, so I know the necessity of having a hospital close," said one speaker.

One by one, concerned residents addressed Premier Health about its decision to close Good Samaritan Hospital.

"Even though you may say you're non-profit, it's about those dollars associated with the business you provide," said another speaker.

Last month Premier Health announced it'll tear down Good Sam by year's end, saying new technology means more outpatient procedures and the hospital costs millions to maintain.

"You are taking that and putting that ahead of a community that has steadfast and has supported you," said another speaker.

"We understand it costs money to maintain anything that's old but build something new," said another.

The CEO said the decision took months .

"We looked at leaving part of the building, we looked at this, we looked at that and we kept coming back in all honesty, to the same position; that it did not make long term sense to continue to operate and

duplicate services from two acute care hospitals so close together," said Premier Health CEO Mary Boosalis.

Two city commissioners said they wish they had known earlier.

"In the last year or even before that, we could have been brought in to help work out some type of solution, a better solution than shutting down a hospital that is so vital to us," said Dayton City Commissioner Matt Joseph.

Some said too many businesses are leaving that area of Dayton.

"You went and a new facility in the suburbs, you added to that facility immensely and you closed a facility in the inner city," said another speaker.

"Thank you for sharing your concerns , and I hear you, I do hear you as best I can but our decision has been made," said Boosalis.

Premier Health said patients will still be able to go to Good Sam North or Miami Valley Hospital.